Childcare costs is the biggest obstacle facing WA parents, according to a survey published in The Sunday Times. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied

THE cost of childcare is the biggest obstacle for West Australian parents, according to The Sunday Times’ WA Speaks survey.

Nearly a third of respondents with children said fees at centres were too high.

The survey, conducted by Galaxy Research, revealed that the availability of places at centres was not a problem for most West Australians.

It comes after The Childcare Affordability in Australia report released on Sunday showed some Australian women were working for as little as $3.44 an hour when they returned to full-time work due to childcare costs.

The report, prepared by AMP and the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling, found that increases in the costs of childcare outstripped petrol price rises over the past five years.

The Sunday Times revealed last month that WA parents are paying up to $147 a day for childcare in WA.

Childcare Association of WA executive officer Rachelle Tucker said centres had been forced to increase their fees by up to 20 per cent over the last 18 months due to the cost of implementing new national childcare regulations.

The average daily fee for long day care in WA is about $85.

The Federal Government has rebates available for parents to subsidise the cost, including the Child Care Rebate which pays half of the out-of-pocket annual childcare costs up to $7500 a year.

WA SPEAKS

The Sunday Times and Nine News, WA Speaks is the largest survey of its kind to canvass the views of West Australians on a range of issues.

More than 6000 people - six times the average survey size - answered 40 questions and respected pollster Galaxy crunched the numbers. PerthNow will bring you the biggest stories from the poll results throughout the week.

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